With Nextbit's new low-cost Android, the sky's the limit on storage

San Francisco startup Nextbit is the latest to throw a new device into the mix with Robin, a reasonably priced Android phone with flagship-worthy specs. The handset, which made its debut on Kickstarter Tuesday, offers an approach to storage that its creators say could help fix device storage problems for good.

Robin boasts similar specs to the much-hyped OnePlus 2. The handset is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 processor and has 3GB of RAM. The 2.3-inch display is full 1080p HD and it has a 13MP rear-facing camera.

Unlike the OnePlus 2, though, Robin is equipped with NFC (so it will be Android Pay-ready) and supports quick charging via its USB Type C connector. The software resembles stock Android at first glance, though Nextbit's handling of cloud storage is unique (we'll get to that in a minute). Early backers will get the phone for $299 for the first 1,000 devices; after those preorders, the Kickstarter price will be $349. Robin's eventual retail price will be set at $399.

Even at $399, though, the Robin sounds like a solid deal compared to the recent flood of cheap Android alternatives.

Nextbit's approach to storage is where things get interesting. Robin only comes with 32GB of onboard storage and doesn't have a microSD slot for extra room, which sounds like an instant deal-breaker. But Nextbit says that even with only 32GB of local storage, users will actually have more than 100GB of space.

Each device comes with 100GB of cloud storage available when you're online. Meanwhile, devices are automatically backed up when plugged in and connected to WI-Fi. The operating system learns your habits over time and is able to automatically "offload" old photos and apps you aren't using to your allotted cloud storage when you need extra space.

For example, say you're nearing your storage limit, with perhaps only 3GB of local storage left. The operating system detects this and will remove old photos and apps you haven't used recently to free up space. But the phone isn't permanently removing apps and photos; low=res versions of images remain cached on the device, while apps that have been offloaded maintain what Nextbit calls "shadow icons." Those apps still appear in your app tray, but the colors of the app icon will be grayed out to indicate the change.

Image: Nextbit

You can tap on the shadow icon to re-download the app when you need it and, since login credentials are cached on the phone, you don't need to worry about logging back in each time you restart a service.

Chan says the company was particularly conscious of building the feature so it doesn't burn through your data or battery. Backups, for example, only happen while connected to power and Wi-Fi; other high bandwidth tasks, like downloading a high-res image, can only be completed over a data connection with approval.

In a demo we saw of the software in action on a Nexus 5, the "offloading" process was fast and surprisingly uncomplicated. Fetching high-res images and apps from the cloud only took seconds when connected to Wi-Fi.

The idea of a smartphone without storage limitations certainly sounds enticing, though it raises potential concerns about whether Nextbit could choose to charge for storage in the future. But CEO Tom Moss says that Robin's "cloud first" approach won't be used to generate future revenue.

"Our goal is to never monetize storage, it’s to make sure you never run out of space," Moss said. "If people tell us a year from now that’s not enough storage, we’ll actually grow that number."

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